The European Parliament and Council of the European Union are debating the inclusion of aviation in Europe’s Emissions Trading Scheme (a so-called “cap and trade” system for CO2 emissions) under the European Community’s “co-decision process.” Key votes are due this month from the transport and environment committees of the Parliament, before a plenary session next month potentially sets its final form in concrete if the two Community institutions reach an agreement.
While the ETS came into force on Oct. 25, 2003, under Community Directive 2003/87/EC and started to affect industries such as power generation on Jan. 1, 2005, the legislative instrument to add aviation came in the form of a draft directive published by the European Commission last December. It proposes to include aviation beginning Jan. 1, 2011, for intra-EU flights and a year later for flights beginning or ending in the EU.
